Three places remain up for grabs after the Matchday Seven fixtures, with Al Ain FC the only team out of the running going into the final round of matches. Qatar's Al Rayyan SC and Al Gharafa SC lead the hopefuls with eight and seven points respectively, while Islamic Republic of Iran's Esteghlal FC and Persepolis FC are both on six. Uzbekistan's Pakhtakor (4) and Iraq's Al Shorta (3) are the other two who will be hoping to come good on Matchday 8.

Salem Al Dawsari proved yet again he is the player for all occasions with a brace for Al Hilal SFC in their 4-1 win against Persepolis on Tuesday, with the skipper making his 100th appearance on the continental stage for his club. The double took his season tally to six, matching his highest return in a single edition of the continental showpiece, which he achieved in 2023/24 over 10 matches.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice in Al Nassr Club's 4-0 defeat of UAE's Al Wasl FC on Monday, taking his season's tally to six. Not only has the Portuguese star scored in the competition for three consecutive matches for the first time but is also the first player to score back-to-back braces for Saudi Arabia's Al Nassr.

Akram Afif added another feather to his cap after needing only 49 seconds to score for Al Sadd SC against Al Ahli Saudi FC. It is the Qatari club's fastest ever goal on the continental stage since 2013. It is the second goal scored within the first minute in the competition this season, after Ali Alipour's goal for Persepolis against Pakhtakor on Matchday Two.

Al Ahli Saudi FC's bid for the title is progressing smoothly with Riyad Mahrez playing a key role in the Saudi Arabian side's campaign. The Algerian assisted the first and scored their third in the 3-1 win over Al Sadd on Monday, taking his total contribution to four goals and six assists, the highest tally for an Al Ahli player in a single edition of the competition since 2013.

Al Sadd's impressive record of winning each time they take the lead came to an end at nine matches after suffering defeat against Al Ahli on Monday. The 2011 AFC Champions League™ winners will be determined to bounce back in their final match, after only managing six shots against Al Ahli, their lowest tally in a home game on the continental stage since August 2014 against Al Hilal.

Al Rayyan came from behind to defeat Al Ain 2-1 on Monday and in the process, ended an eight-match streak which had seen them go winless in games in which they conceded first. 

Al Ain FC will hope to end their campaign with a win after a run of seven matches without victory, the longest winless streak for a defending champion in the competition's history. In what has been a tough outing for the UAE side, they have conceded 20 goals so far, equal to the number they conceded in 14 matches in last season's title-winning campaign.